My 99 3.8 has had a problem for about a year, and just last week it finally kicked a code. P1441: Evap purge in non purge condition, purge solenoid failure (open).

I was wondering what the symptoms of this failure would be, and if it has anything to do with what my car is doing.

-My car has gone from 27mpg to 21mpg with no change in driving habits.
-Starts fine when cold, but requires a bit of cranking (5 secs or so) when warm (left off for more than 10 min up to 4 hours), restarts fine when left off for less than 10 min though.
-Sometimes the car immediately dies after one of these "warm" starts, but restarts normally afterwards.
-During all of these "warm" starts, a VERY strong smell of fuel in exhaust. Though once running, smell is normal.
-Once engine is started, the car runs fine, no loss in power, no hesitation, no missing.
-Cold idle is very smooth, but when engine is hot the idle is "less than smooth," not rough, just less than smooth to the point where you can feel it through the wheel and shifter.
-Torque converter hunting at low rpm's, but at high manifold pressures. (not severe)


With all of these symptoms, I has assumed that an air density or temperature sensor was bad. Over the past year I have replaced all of those. (IAT, ECT, MAP, MAF, all 3 O2's). Plugs and wires were changed 50,000mi ago with delco OE parts. Ive checked all vacuum lines and connections, all seem sound. New fuel filter. Recent seafoam and deep creep treatment as well.